Package holder



April 18 1933;

c. E. BERG PACKAGE HOLDER Filed Aug 31, 1951 M M a Hum MM fi 2 4 m ,wy 5 0 2 k g g :1 4 H 2 Z 2/ m in. J

Patented Apr. 18, 1933 STATES 1 CHARLES E. BERG, OF VERO BEACH, FLORIDA PACKAGE HOLDER Application filed August 31, 1931. Serial No. 560,423.

This invention is a device for conveniently carrying original commercial packages of cigarettes, or other similar more or less soft packages, so that the contents may be readily accessible, as the user may desire.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned in which a package of relatively soft articles in its original commercial form, may be placed, said device being so constructed that the contents of the package will be normally protected from injury while carried in a pocket, and yet may be readily dispensed as occasion may require. A further object is to provide a carrier member of any suitable material, having guides, in association with a tray member of similar material shaped to contain the package, said tray member having a slidable engagement with said guides.

A further object is to provide a device for the .purpose mentioned, which is also equipped with means for positively limiting the slidable movements of the tray member, and other means limiting the freedom of move- 5 ment of the tray member with respect to said carrier member. A further object is to so construct the tray member that the contents of the package will be readily accessible. further object is to provide a simple device 0 of the character mentioned having means for conveniently attaching thereto a package of matches. 7

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing z.-

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a device constructed in accordance with the invention. Figure 2 1s a rear v1ew thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3-3, F igure 2. Figure 4 1s a transverse sectional view on the line 44, Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing, C designates a carrier member constructed of sheet mate- 5 rial, but preferably struck) up from thin sheet metal. Said memberis provided with a back portion 10, which is widened at both ends, said ends being bent forwardly at ap proximately right angles to theba'c'k portion, so as to provide integral, spaced apart, transformed with a back portion 20, two side walls versely disposed guides 11 and 12. The outer portions of said guides arebent toward each other into planes parallel with the back portion 10, so asto provide retaining flanges having free edge portions disposed opposite to each other. Said guides are also provided with stops 14, formed by bending one end portion to a position lying at approximately right angles to an end of the contiguous flange 13, as shown. The other or free extremity of each flange 13, i. e. the end furthest from the stop flange 14 is slightly offset inwardly, as indicated at 15, so as to provide a resilient friction tongue for a purpose'to be later described. The guide flanges 13 are so disposed as to provide the carrier member with an open front portion.

The longitudinal edges of the back, between the widened end portions are bent backwardly upon the portion 10 so as to pro- 7 vide flanges 16 and 17 under which the paper back of a book of matches M may be slipped. By this arrangement the matches are con-' ventiently at hand when desired, and at the same time the package M serves as a means for readily holding the carrier member during slidable movement of the tray member C. A portion of the flange 17 is bent forwardly to form a stop-member 18, as shown.

Slidably mounted between the guides 11 and 12 of the carrier member, so as to-move laterally with respect thereto is a tray member T, which is also preferably struck up from sheet metal. Said tray. member is 21, and two end Walls 22 and 23, a portion of the end wall 23 being cut away to provide an opening 24. The free edges of the sides 21, and the corresponding edge of the end wall 23 are bent toward each other to provide an open front area having narrow lips 24, which serve to retain a package of cigarettes or the like within the tray member. The back portion is also provided with a small slot 25, complemental to the stop member 18, said slot having raised edges. The open front area of the tray member T normally registers with the open front portion of the carrier C.

In practice, the tray member T is normally retained between the guides of the carrier member C, relative sliding movement of the two members in one direction being limited by the stop flanges 14, and in the other direction by engagement of the stop member 18 with the raised edges or lips of slot 25. In practice, during relative slidable movement of the tray and the carrier, the stop 18 engages the contiguous back surface of tray T, the resiliency of the metal of which the carrier member G is constructed permitting of this movement. To charge the tray member T it is first disengaged from the carrier member by sliding it to the right as viewed in the drawing, and at the same time springing the back wall 10 of the carrier member backwardly so that the stop member 18 will clear the slot 25, whereupon the tray member may be pushed out of the guides 11 and 12. A package of cigarettes or the like is then placed in the tray member, being forced past the lips 2%, so that the package will be retained in place within the tray member, with its label exposed through the open area of the tray member and the open front portion of the carrier member. The tray member is then replaced within the carrier member by slidably engaging it with the flanges or guides 11 and 12 and moving it to the left as viewed in Figure 1, the two back walls 10 and 20 also being slidably engaged. Movement of the tray member to its extreme position against the stop flanges 14 is permitted by again springing the back wall 20 backwardly until the stop member 18 clears the slot 25. In assembled closed relation the tray member is so positioned that its side walls lie flush with the ends of the guides 11 and 12, with the front of the package exposed to view in the space between said guides, the opening 24 being closed by the guide 11. A book of matches M would also be normally engaged with the flanges 16 and 17.

When it is desired to obtain an article from the package, such as a cigarette, for instance, the carrier member is held in one hand, with the fingers engaging the match book M, and then by pressing the left hand side wall of the tray member, as viewed in Figure 1, preferably with the thumb of the same hand, said tray member will be moved to the right until the stop member 18, because of the resiliency of the metal enters the slot 25, whereupon further movement of the tray member in that direction is arrested, one corner of the package being exposed through the opening 2%. The cigarette may then be readily removed and the tray member re turned to its original closed position. During these movements it will be noted that the offset ends of the resilient flanges 14ibear against the face of the package with suiticient friction to limit the freedom of movement of the tray member with respect to the carrier member, and yet with insufiicient force to tear the package or otherwise mar it.

The advantages of the invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it belongs. For instance, it will be readily observed that a very simple and inexpensive device is provided, by means of which a soft package, such as the standard type of commercial package containing cigarette may be protected from injury while being carried about in the aockets of the owner, and yet the cigarettes are readily accessible when desired. A further advantage is that the parts are so constructed that the tray member will readily slide with respect to the carrier member, and yet the sliding movement is positively limited in both directions by simple expedients. Another advantage is that the freedom of the relative sliding movement of the parts is suficiently retarded to prevent movement of the tray member at such speed that the locking lug will be caused to ump the slot in the tray member, but at the same time permitting sufficient freedom of movement to insure easy manipulation.

It is to be understood that the dimensions of the device are to be preferably determined with respect to the size and shape of the package it is to receive, and also that the device is not limited to receiving and retaining packages of cigarettes.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described an operative manner of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the forms of its use, what is claimed is 1. A package holder of the character described comprising a carrier member having its ends provided with guides, a tray member having its ends slidably engaging said guides, means for limiting slidable movement of the tray member in both directions, and means on the back of said carrier member for engaging a packet of matches, so that said packet may be utilized as an aid in preventing sliding movement of the carrier member during movements of the tray member.

2. A. package holder of the character described comprising a carrier member provided with a back portion having its ends shaped toprovide guides, a tray member having its ends slidably engaging said guides, means for limiting slidable movement of the tray member in both directions, and flanges on the edges of said back member for receiving a packet of matches, so that said packet may be gripped by the fingers of the operator during sliding movements of said tray member.

3. A package holder of the character described comprising a carrier member formed with a back portion having forwardly bent end portions providing transversely disposed guides, said guides being spaced apartto form an open front portion for the carrier tray member and the carrier member in both directions.

4. A package holder of the character described comprising a carrier member formed with a back portion having forwardly bent end portions providing transversely disposed guides, said guides being spaced apart to form an open front for the carrier member, a tray member having end walls slidably engaging said guides, so that the tray member is free to move laterally with respect to the guide member, the front of said tray member having an open area for exposing a package carried by the tray member, said open area being positioned to register with the open front of said carrier member, a portion of one end wall of said tray member being cut away, means associated with the guides for limiting movement of the tray member in one direction, and complemental means carried by said back portion and the tray member for limiting movement of said tray member in the other direction.

5. A package holder of the character described comprising a carrier member formed with a back portion having forwardly bent end portions providing transversely disposed guides, said guides being spaced apart to form an open front for the carrier member, a boX-like tray member having an open front area positioned to register with the open front portion of the carrier member, said tray member having ends slidably engaging.

said guide members so that the tray member is transversely movable with respect to the carrier member, and complemental means on the back portion of the carrier member and the back wall of the tray member to limit movement of the tray member in one direction.

. 6. A package holder of the character described comprising a carrier member formed with a back portion having forwardly bent end portions providing transversely disposed guides, said guides being spaced apart to form an open front for the carrier member, a box-like tray member having an open front area positioned to register with the open front portion of the carrier member, said tray member having ends slidably engaging said guide members so that the tray member is transversely movable with respect to the carrier member, stop means at one end of each guide for limiting slidable movement of the tray member in one direction, and complemental means on. the back portion ofthe carrier member and the back wall of the tray member to limit slidable movement of the tray in the other direction.

7. A package holder of the character described comprising a carrier member formed with a back portion having forwardly bent end portions providing transversely disposed guides, said guides being spaced apart to form an open front for the carrier member, sald back portion havlng a pro ection thereon, a box-like tray member having an open front area positioned to register with the open front of said carrier member, the ends of said tray member being slidably engaged with said guide members, the rear wall of said tray member having a slot therein provided with a raised lip complemental to the projection on said back portion for limiting slidable movement of the tray member in one direction.

8. A package holder of the character described comprising a carrier member formed with a back portion having forwardly bent end portions providing transversely disposed guides, said guides being spaced apart to form an open front for the carrier member, said back portion having a projection thereon, a box-like tray member having an open front area positioned to register with the open front of said carrier member, the ends ofsaid tray member being slidably engaged with said guide members, the rear wall of said tray member having a slot therein provided with a raised lip complemental to the projection on said back portion for limiting slidable movement of the tray member in one direction, and a stop flange at one end of each of said guides for limiting movement of the tray in the other direction.

9. A package holder of the character de scribed comprising a carrier member formed with back portion and forwardly extended transversely disposed'guides at the ends of said back portion, said guides being spaced apart to provide an open front, a tray member slidably mounted in said guides and also having an open front so as to expose a package carried by the tray, said open front coinciding with the open front of the carrier member, and friction means supported by said carrier member and normally projected through the open front portions of the carrier and tray members, so as to frictionally engage said package and limitthe freedom of movement of the tray member with respect to the carrier member. 7 v 10. A package holder of the character described comprising a carrier member formed with a back portion and forwardly extended transversely disposed guides at the ends of said back portion, said guides being spaced apart to provide an open front, a tray member slidably mounted in said guides and also having an open front so as to expose a package carried by the tray, said open front coinciding with the open front of the carrier member and strips associated With and supported by said guides said strips having resilient end portions projected through the open front portions of the carrier and tray members, so as to frictionally engage said package and limit the freedom of movement of the tray member With respect to the carrier member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES E. BERG. 

